Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear Fusion is a process in which two light atoms combine together to form a heavier atom. It is the opposite process of nuclear fission, which is the splitting of a large atom into two smaller atoms. This process releases an enormous amount of energy, about four million times more energy than burning coal. Nuclear Fusion occurs naturally in stars, where temperatures as high as 15 million degrees Celsius are reached. Here, hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atoms. Experimental Nuclear Fusion is being conducted in laboratories around the world, with the goal of developing a safe, clean, and virtually limitless energy source. In this process, two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, are heated to temperatures up to 150 million degrees Celsius, forming a plasma. This plasma is then contained in a strong magnetic field, called a tokamak. Fun Fact: Nuclear Fusion has the potential to provide enough energy to power the entire planet for millions of years.